Social networks and fishers' behavior: Exploring the links between information flow and fishing success in the Northumberland lobster fishery
Social networks and fishers' behavior: Exploring the links between information flow and fishing success in the Northumberland lobster fishery
复制标题
社交网络和渔民行为：探索诺森伯兰龙虾渔业信息流和捕捞成功之间的联系
DOI：
10.5751/es-06456-190238
复制
发表时间：
2014
影响因子：
4.1
通讯作者：
S. Stead
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
R. Turner;N. Polunin;S. Stead
世界各地的渔业正面临过度捕捞，但渔民行为的社会层面仍未得到充分研究，需要更好地了解影响渔业动态的社会过程。渔民利用社会关系获取与捕捞机会有关的信息，为决策和行为提供知识支持。在这项研究中，我们使用定量社会网络分析(SNA)来比较信息共享网络的结构，并探索信息流与英国诺森伯兰(Northumberland)盆栽渔业四个港口捕捞成功之间的联系。在我们的结果中，我们描述了每个港口存在的不同信息共享网络，并表明：报告共享信息的渔民比例很高，尽管报告的联系中只有不到三分之一是互惠的；存在着信息共享程度更高的小组；网络显示出不同程度的凝聚力。渔民通常与他们认为成功的其他人分享信息，在类似成功的渔民中，互惠关系更为常见。此外，在网络中处于中心位置的渔民通过社会关系获得的信息来源更多，与更少的同龄人共享信息，并且比那些不处于中心位置的渔民更成功。我们的结论是，参与信息共享网络可以为诺森伯兰渔民带来好处，尽管通过社会网络获得的好处可能不是平均分配的。尽管信息共享网络可能有助于捕捞成功，即龙虾上岸量高，但这些结果可能与长期渔业管理目标不符。然而，了解信息共享的社会动态有助于通过确定信息共享网络中的中心渔民来帮助制定管理战略，这些中心渔民可以获得关于其他人捕鱼行为的一系列信息。这类渔民或许能够协助管理人员收集关于捕捞机会分布、渔业状况以及渔民利用其知识适应变化和管理干预措施的信息。
Fisheries worldwide are facing overexploitation, yet the social dimensions of fishers' behavior remain under-studied, and there is demand for an improved understanding of social processes that influence fisheries' dynamics. Fishers draw on social relationships to acquire information relating to fishing opportunities, contributing to knowledge that underpins decision making and behavior. In this study we use quantitative social network analysis (SNA) to compare the structure of information-sharing networks and explore links between information flow and fishing success at four ports in the Northumberland (UK) potting fishery. In our results we describe the different information-sharing networks existing at each port, and show the following: a high proportion of fishers reported sharing information, though fewer than a third of reported ties were reciprocated; subgroups existed in which greater information sharing occurred; and networks displayed varying levels of cohesiveness. Fishers commonly shared information with others whom they perceived to be successful, and reciprocal relationships were more common among fishers of similar success. Furthermore, fishers more central in networks had more sources of incoming information through social relationships, shared information with fewer peers, and were more successful than those who were less central. We conclude that engaging in information-sharing networks can provide benefits for Northumberland fishers, although advantages gained through social networks may not be equally distributed. Although information- sharing networks may contribute to fishing success, i.e., high lobster landings, these outcomes may not be compatible with long-term fisheries management objectives. Nevertheless, understanding the social dynamics of information sharing can help inform management strategies by identifying central fishers in information-sharing networks, who have access to a range of information on others' fishing behavior. Such fishers may be able to assist managers in collecting information on the distribution of fishing opportunities, the state of the fishery, and the ways in which fishers use their knowledge to adapt to change and management interventions.